The Department of Geoscience offers an undergraduate major and an undergraduate certificate. Each program offers tremendous opportunities for learning about the processes that have shaped the Earth, its environments, and the life that it has sustained over billions of years.
Explore the Geology and Geophysics major.
Explore the Geoscience certificate.
These programs showcase the interdisciplinary nature of geoscience, drawing on knowledge and technology from chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, space and planetary science, and other disciplines. Through these programs, students acquire knowledge and skills valuable in a wide range of fields (e.g., environmental geoscience, hydrogeology, critical minerals, energy, engineering, and education) and across a wide range of careers in the private sector (e.g., geological and environmental firms), federal and state agencies (e.g., national labs and geological surveys) and academia.
Announcement of new Geoscience Certificate
Students can officially declare the Geoscience Certificate starting August 25, 2026. If you’d like to let the Department of Geoscience know that you’re interested in the certificate before then, please fill out this form. An advisor in the Department of Geoscience would be happy to chat with you about the certificate anytime and can help you prepare to declare the certificate.
Career opportunities
A degree or certificate in the field of geoscience prepares students for a wide range of careers focused on understanding Earth systems, managing natural resources, and addressing environmental challenges. Graduates work in fields such as hydrogeology, environmental consulting, petroleum and mining industries, engineering geology, climate science, sustainability, and hazard assessment, often with government agencies, research organizations, consulting firms, and energy or resource management industries. Geoscience training also supports careers in geologic mapping, groundwater studies, mineral exploration, environmental policy and law, disaster response, and K–12 or university education. Many students pursue advanced graduate study in areas including geology, geophysics, glaciology, paleontology, and planetary science, while the Geoscience certificate offers students from a variety of majors an opportunity to broaden their scientific and technical expertise for careers or graduate study in Earth and environmental sciences.